Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara

Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara is a decent, albeit very basic platformer that does enough to be mildly entertaining, but not enough to have a lasting presence.

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In "Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara," join Koa and Napopo on a quest to traverse wild islands, defeat pirate bosses, and discover eight diverse worlds. Sail the ocean, upgrade your boat, and unlock new skins and backpacks for Koa while meeting memorable characters and uncovering hidden secrets. With beautiful visuals and levels that cater to both casual and experienced players, this platforming adventure pays homage to classic games.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 167 reviews

gameplay30 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara offers a charming and relaxing platforming experience with responsive controls and enjoyable gameplay.
The game features a variety of collectibles and time trials that encourage replayability and speedrunning, making it fun for both casual and competitive players.
The visuals are bright and cute, and the game is accessible for newcomers to the platforming genre, providing a good introduction to 3D platformers.

The game is relatively short, with many players completing it in under 8 hours, which may leave some wanting more content.
The dialogue can be excessive and detracts from the pacing, with some players finding the characters and story bland and uninteresting.
Some gameplay mechanics, such as the roll-jump and character movement, can feel clunky or overly simplistic, leading to a lack of challenge for experienced players.

gameplay
53 mentions
57 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its charming simplicity and solid mechanics, reminiscent of classic platformers, with a focus on exploration and speed-running. While it offers a variety of level designs and unique mechanics, some players feel that the introduction of multiple gameplay styles early on reflects a lack of confidence in the core mechanics. Overall, the game is accessible and enjoyable, though some may find it less challenging and feel that the price does not match the gameplay hours provided.
- “It's very simple, but in a good, charming way with relaxing music, nice visuals, and fun gameplay.”
- “The characters are super cute and fun, the dialogue is witty but not long enough to be corny, and the different worlds always introduce new and distinct mechanics.”
- “It has unique and varied gameplay throughout the game, and is oozing with depth.”
- “Sure, I get that games like these can benefit from shaking up their gameplay with the occasional underwater level, auto scroller, and auto runner, but having all three of those within the first 10 levels isn't an attempt to shake up stale gameplay; it's, in my opinion, an unwarranted lack of confidence in what seems to be the core gameplay of this game.”
- “The exploration/collection aspect of this game, while aiding the gameplay, is quite minimal.”
- “[music is repetitive, controls on mouse and keyboard could use some fine-tuning, gameplay feels disjointed and mashed together]”
graphics
35 mentions
34 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming, colorful, and cohesive art style, reminiscent of classic platformers like Kirby and Mario. Many reviewers describe the visuals as "eye candy," highlighting their cuteness and the engaging atmosphere they create, although some note that they don't quite match the quality of the previous title. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's fun and relaxing vibe, enhancing the gameplay experience.
- “The graphics are literally eye candy.”
- “Beautiful graphics and fun levels.”
- “The art style is adorable and cohesive.”
- “The graphics don't quite match up to the previous game, which was my cozy escape on tough days.”
- “[visuals are uninspired]”
- “The writing also doesn't shine much; the cute visuals do infinitely more to set the vibes than the 'too cute for its own good' dialogue does.”
story
27 mentions
41 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The story of "Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara" is described as cute and simple, centering on Koa's quest to reclaim her town's belongings from pirates, with engaging characters that add charm to the narrative. While some reviewers noted plot holes and a lack of depth, many found the story sufficient and enjoyable, especially for younger audiences, with a variety of tasks that enhance the gameplay experience. Overall, the game is praised for its fun and colorful storytelling, making it accessible even for those unfamiliar with previous titles in the series.
- “The difficulty curve is fair, the story is engaging, the graphics are great.”
- “Loved the story and the characters!!”
- “The story is cute and simple; I actually enjoyed the personalities of all the pirates, and Koa is very charming.”
- “When you strip away the cute trappings, Koa is essentially taking part in a rigged race and scavenger-hunt game put together by the local bully kids to get the town's belongings back (a town full of adults who, by the way, could probably retrieve or replace their own things given half a chance - the same glaring plot hole that plagues 'Inenchanted', another title drawing on real-life Pacific lore).”
- “A fun quick little game; I didn't play the other Koa game, so I had no clue who anyone was or the story behind them, which kind of sucked, but I had fun with this game.”
- “It felt a bit out of place because the game itself, with its otherwise ingenuous storytelling, goes well without any kind of romantic partnership.”
music
15 mentions
40 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as charming and relaxing, with a joyous and energetic soundtrack composed by Adrian Berenguer that evokes a Studio Ghibli influence. While many players appreciate the pleasant atmosphere and creative level design, some find the music to be forgettable or repetitive, occasionally failing to match the gameplay's vibe. Overall, the soundtrack contributes positively to the game's enjoyable and chill experience, despite some criticisms.
- “The music is nice, good controls and the levels are creatively designed - overall a very pleasant and chill game.”
- “Adrian Berenguer has composed a joyous, energetic soundtrack that gives Koa such a fresh vibe.”
- “And I love the music and the atmosphere in these games, that's clearly influenced by Studio Ghibli movies.”
- “The music is unfortunately forgettable, at worst failing to match the vibe of what Koa's doing.”
- “[Music is repetitive, controls on mouse and keyboard could use some fine-tuning, gameplay feels disjointed and mashed together]”
optimization
10 mentions
20 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
Overall, "Koa" demonstrates solid optimization on the Steam Deck, delivering a smooth 60 fps experience without performance issues. However, players have reported subpar performance on PC, suggesting that further optimization patches are needed to enhance the experience for those users.
- “The performance is also great.”
- “(I played it entirely on the Deck and had zero performance or crashing issues, so this is a must-have.)”
- “Performance on my PC was much worse than ought to be expected for a game that looks like it ought to be able to easily run on my phone.”
- “I hope the devs intend to bring several performance patches to the game so that others will have a smoother experience than I did at launch.”
- “Koa plays well across the board; I played it on my Steam Deck and was overall really satisfied with the smooth 60 fps performance.”
humor
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its witty dialogue and charming character interactions, contributing to an overall lighthearted and enjoyable experience. The cute visuals complement the comedic elements, making it a standout platformer.
- “The dialogue is pretty funny.”
- “The visuals are super cute, the characters are funny, and overall it feels like a great platformer.”
emotional
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong desire for more cute and wholesome games within the Mara universe, highlighting an emotional connection to the charm and positivity these games evoke.
grinding
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of "Summer in Mara" to be enjoyable, as it combines elements of casual farming simulation with adventure and visual novel mechanics, creating a relaxed and engaging experience.
atmosphere
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is highly praised for its enchanting music and visual style, which many users feel is reminiscent of Studio Ghibli films, creating a captivating and immersive experience.
- “I love the music and the atmosphere in these games; it's clearly influenced by Studio Ghibli movies.”
stability
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Users report a high level of stability, with many experiencing no bugs, glitches, or game-breaking issues, highlighting this as a commendable aspect of the game.